A/N: I heard or read somewhere that a hundred years passed for the Doctor before he went back to ask Rose a second time. I'm not sure how accurate that information is, but my mind went "What if," and this story happened. I'm not sure it's very good, but I think Nine is adorable.
Disclaimer: I don't own Doctor Who.
Ridiculous
This was ridiculous. The Doctor sat up from where he was tinkering with the TARDIS. A hundred years had passed and he still couldn't stop thinking about that blonde girl. Rose Tyler. She'd turned him down. Made it clear that she didn't want to travel with him. So why was he still thinking of her?
The Doctor sighed as he stood and moved toward the console. Where should he go next? All of Time and Space as his backyard. He'd been lots of places in the last hundred years, but somehow they didn't hold the same appeal anymore. He'd known it wouldn't be the same after The War, but he hadn't realized it would be like this. And the one place he really wanted to go wasn't somewhere he was welcome.
The Doctor trailed his hands over the TARDIS controls morosely, a sad smile on his face. "And why would she want to come with me, anyway? I'm no fun anymore. What could I possibly offer her," he wondered, thinking of the bright human who still invaded his thoughts after all this time.
The TARDIS beeped at him sadly before nudging his mind with her presence.
"I did ask her. Rose said no."
The TARDIS beeped again, more insistently this time.
"What do you mean," the Doctor asked, frowning in confusion. "I already told her about you."
His ship made a series of aggravated beeps as the presence continued to poke his mind.
"I am listening. I just don't understand what you mean."
The words Time Machine flashed on the console screen as the TARDIS gave the equivalent of a sigh.
Oh. "Oh," the Doctor said, now excitedly pressing buttons and turning knobs, practically dancing around the console. "You're right! I never told her we can travel in time!"
The TARDIS was laughing at him, but he ignored it. He pulled the lever that would take them back to earth. Maybe it was worth asking Rose Tyler to come with him again. Two seconds after he'd last left should be okay. He'd try it anyway. Anything to make him stop being this ridiculous.